Lipitor And Cramps Information

Lipitor And Cramps

Top Questions and Answers

what do muscle cramps signify when using Lipitor? I've been using Lipitor for 7 monrths. About 3 months ago I started getting muscle cramps in my legs. About the same time the cramps started I also went on 3 vacations, 1 each month and they all consisted of a daily intake of alcohol... about 3-6 drinks a day. I normally don't drink. I've been told the alcohol and Lipitor mix is the cause, I've been told Lipitor in general can cause cramps, I've been told don't worry about it, and I've been told to stop taking the lipitor. I recently had a blood test and everything came back great. So, what do cramps and Lipitor have in common if anything and should I be concerned?

A.J. replied: "That is a symptom of a serious side effect. You need to go to another md for a second opinion. Maybe get different bloodwork done. And drinking does increase that side effect. And whoever told you that alcohol and lipitor doesnt mix were right. Go see a different md and have them test you again."

kathyw replied: "There was some concern about a very serious condition that involved muscle pain with statins - but I believe the statin was Baycol or Baycor or some name like that... Your blood tests looked normal and probably that is why your doctor wasn't concerned. There's a lot of discussion about the side-effects of taking statins and muscle pain is sometimes mentioned. The problem is that it is hard to isolate the causes of things. For example, you went on 3 vacations - did you walk a lot? 3-6 drinks a day is a lot. But now you aren't drinking that much, right? Have the cramps gone away? This is what I mean about it being hard to isolate causes.. Did you walk a lot of vacation? If you were a tourist out walking around, you probably did. What kind of shoes did you wear? You say the cramps were in your legs. Those are the muscles most active when you are walking. Posture and shoes can really affect the way you feel - but basically, one good way to test this out is to ask your doctor to change you to a different, similar statin (Pravachol comes to mind but I don't know - obviously, I'm not a doctor!) and see if you have the same problem in 6 months. I think it takes 6 months for lipitor to leave your system but ask your doctor."

nicedoc replied: "Statins such as Lipitor can potentially cause a dangerous side effect of muscle breakdown. Make sure your doctor checked a CK level in your blood; if it's high it could signal muscle breakdown."

How many of you who have toe cramps take lipitor? I am trying to analyze medicinal effects I may be experiencing and taking my own survey. I have just stopped taking lipitor after several years--5 or more---to see if I feel any changes ---looking for answers to toe cramps, anxiety, vertigo, mostly. tchmusik

buckeye0807 replied: "My husband was on Lipitor for a couple years and he had cramping and muscle spasms from the drug. It is listed as a precaution to the medicine."

Double Diamonds replied: "I was taken off lipitor as I have liver disease and was told it could effect my readings and make the liver symptoms worse. I did have vertigo at times and general foot and wrist and finger cramps. It knocked me out on a night, (40mg) and was quite dopey in the morning. The alternative I have been given shows no side effects to date. I was on lipitor for 2 1/2 years. I hope this helps. I cant say I had anxiety though."

has anyone who takes lipitor for cholesterol had any side effects like pains in the upper arm? I have been takeing Lipitor for over a year now and in the last two months i have had cramping and severe pain in my upper arm muscles.

sokokl replied: "I have never taken Lipitor but I know of several people who have and they did have problems with muscle pain. The landlord of one of my uncles has a relative who got fibromyalgia because of the Lipitor. Because of how severe this pain is I would recommend getting in touch with your doctor to let them know what's going on so that they can evaluate the situation further to see what they say."

Has anyone ever had a reaction to lipitor or crestor? what was the reaction and what did you do about it? I was given Lipitor and I got leg cramps and stomach pains and the Doctor stopped the Lipitor immediately and changed to Crestor. Again within 2 weeks, leg cramps/ stomach pains/ trouble walking and went to the hospital. I spent 5 weeks in the hospital because my Kidneys stopped working / my skin turned brown/ i paralysed from the waist down. With hard work and many medications my kidneys are functioning again and I can walk with a walker. The muscles in my legs and arms have broken down and they need to be rebuilt. Has anyone ever gone threw this? What did you do?

Mikey replied: "Are you out of your Mind, of course not."

is the drug lipitor given to patients to treat anything else besides high cholesterol? my neighbor was given lipitor after some kind of treatment on her arteries.She says the doctor says it is to keep down her pain in her legs and to help regulate her heart. Recently she was taken off this medication with no replacements and is now experiencing leg cramps at night. To my knowledge lipitor is for high cholesteral and not heart conditions.... it helps to keep the arteries clear.... am i mistaken?

knicname replied: "It is also used for high triglycerides. It is used to help prevent arterial clogging & therefore would help flow of blood in arteries...helps prevent heart attacks & strokes. Google: mayo clinic>>drugs>>Lipitor"

Is mild muscle weakness to be expected while taking a statin? Will it go away? I was on Zocor for only 2 weeks and my legs started cramping and now he switched me to Lipitor and I have only been on these for 12 days and my body just feels "blah" kind of week in the legs. I would rather not go back to the doctor because I feel he thinks it is all in my head. Is there a test they can do on me to make sure my muscles are okay? And my kidneys?

jujujiggy replied: "This could be a serious complication, need to call your doctor, as soon as possible, in the mean don't take more until, doc says it's ok."

Was on Lipitor 20 mg tabs for 90 days= muscle problems, loss of period (amenorrhea) . . .any info on this? Having many, many adverse reactions to taking this medication. I have tried repeatedly to contact the Dr and keep getting voice mail so no appt made yet or contact with them yet - just playing phone tag. So I quit taking it two days ago due to concern caused by my loss of periods for several months (I have been abstinant for at least a year-so not pregnant), severe dry skin, eczema, Seborrheic dermatitis(bad dandruff), graying hair, severe dry mouth, insomnia, loss of appetite, muscle pain, weakness, cramps all over, fatigue, stiffness, cramping - especially in lower legs, stiff neck, mood reactions and dry mouth also. I am a 38 yr old female born 02-11-1968, I was healthy other than a very high herditary LDL level and 50 pounds over my ideal weight and hypothyroidism (on synthroid and at good TSH levels though) when put on this drug several months ago and doubt the benefits can be worth how awful life has become while on this medication. Anyone have any info or input on this at all?

prettyfreek15 replied: "Consult your doctor because he will probably take you off of that medication."

Panacea replied: "Stop taking that drug immediately until you are able to consult with a doctor. Statin drugs have a rare, but life threatening side effect that has those as initial symptoms (muscle cramping etc.)"

Ladybug replied: "My mother was on Lipitor. She started taking flax oil; she started with 1 teaspoon a day & gradually increased to 1 tablespoon a day. She was able to get off all high blood pressure and cholesteral meds. Make sure it's fresh & refridgerated."

medhelp replied: "There are alternatives to this that have no side effects and work as good or better, but do not count on your doctor to be knowledgeable about this. The pharmaceutical companies have a big influence on the training of doctors. If they have not been shown alternatives and how they work they will just give the company line. With these side effects you should not be taking statin drugs. To counteract some of the effects you are having take Co Q-10 this is what cholesterol drugs deplete."

sandras77 replied: "im on liptor 20 mg. not overweight im 5 2 and weigh 130..my dad is slender and he has the same problem with zocor. im taking liptor 20 mg. but if it hurts me like it did before im quiting it too."

Diana replied: "See your doctor, stay off the meds with that many side effects and try something natural"

sanrews replied: "I have been on a daily dose of 40mg Lipitor for 8 years with no problems other than erectile. But then I guess I'm just lucky."

Cramping in the upper leg and foot? Constant mild cramps in my left side. Not pain, just discomfort. Upper thigh, mid calf and foot. Sometimes feels hot. 57 year old female. On lipitor for cholesterol. Exercise regularly. Good diet. What could be the reason for this discomfort? I am talking calcium daily as well.

resolutewarrior2005 replied: "How is your potassium intake...Bannannas... Just the left side...? Have you changed shoes or wearing old shoes? Poor shoes are a cause for the rest of our body to get out of whack because the muscles compensate... Hot is usually related to a worked out muscle or group of them where the lactic acid builds up from the work out. it is a normal by product that may take time to vacate the muscle tissue... I might try drinking some Gatorade too to get some electrolytes in me...and taking a nice hot sits bath with good old Epsom salts Of course if it does not go away, see the doctor. Good luck!"

yessaipan replied: "Most likely caused by a lack of minerals. Magnesium, potassium, and calcium. The drugs you are taking could be depleting the minerals and the calcium you are taking may not be absorbing into your body (most kinds the body can't absorb correctly) and calcium without natural vitamin D (the sun) is worthless. You may need to increase your mineral intake, best done using natural sources. Check out a good health food store for direction. Drinking any kind of soda depletes your body of minerals and could be the cause. Carbonation leaches vitamins from the bones."

CHOLESTEROL & STATINS? i HAVE BEEN TAKING LIPITOR FOR YEARS . THEN i STARTED TO DEVELOP LEG CRAMPS. THEN I SWITCHED TO ZOCOR & THE CRAMPS ARE BACK. i TOOK MYSELF OFF ZOCOR 3 DAYS AGO & i HAVE CONSIDERABLE IMPROVEMENT. iS THERE ANY THING ELSE i CAN TAKE?

gangadharan nair replied: "Side effects of Atorvastatin and Simvastatin are muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness. Control your cholesterol by diet and exercise. Consult your doctor."

Rhianna Returns replied: "Well rather than coming off them completely, a dose adjustment may have helped. 10mg of Lipitor is usually more tolerable. What dose were you taking before and more importantly what is your cholesterol level at the moment? See your GP and discuss the problems you are having with him. Do you have any other health conditions and what other medications do you take? Some drugs can make mucle effects worse."

saurabh m replied: "Wednesday, July 8, 2009 Reduce Cholestrol Save Heart REDUCE CHOLESTROL SAVE HEART (Dr.Saurabh Mehrotra) RISK OF HIGH LEVEL CHOLESTROL (S. Cholesterol normal range: 130-230mg %) CHOLESTROL LEVELS IN CHILDREN AND ALDOSCENTS FROMHIGH RISK FAMILIES* (*IF ONE PARENT’S LEVEL IS 240mg/dL OR HIGHER OR IF A PARENT OR GRAND PARENT HAD EVIDENCE CORONARY ARTERYDISEASE B4 AGE OF 55.) CATEGORY TOTAL CHOLESTROL (mg/dL) LDL CHOLESTROL (mg/dL) ACCEPTABLE LOWER THAN 170 LOWER THAN 110 BORDERLINE 170-199 110-129 HIGH HIGHER THAN/ HIGHER THAN/ =200 =130 IF TOTAL CHOL. =300mg/dL; RISK FOR DEV. CORONARY DISEASE IS DOUBLE IF TOTAL CHOL.WERE 150mg/dL. IF TOTAL CHOL. =300mg/dL; RISK OF DYING OF CORONARY DISEASE IS 4 TIMES IF TOTAL CHOL.WERE 190mg/dL. REDUCING CHOL. BY 10% REDUCES YOUR FUTURE CORONARY RISK BY 20%. INCREASING HDL 1mg/dL REDUCES CORONARY RISK BY 2-3%. Mr.Arvind Chopra (R) 46 M successfully reduced cholestrol level from 268.9 mg% (28 Jan 09) to 190 mg% (3 Jun 09) by having treatment from Dr. Saurabh Mehrotra (L). # Issued in public interest under REDUCE CHOLESTROL SAVE HEART PROGRAM by Dr. Saurabh Mehrotra. # For more details contact : Dr. Saurabh Mehrotra ; mob - +91-9936-42-3621 ; Email : Posted by dr saurabh"

kelby7670 replied: "Stop taking statins. If you have a pain or an infection, it makes sense to take some medication. If you have a cronic disease, it makes sense to take a medication to control it. If you can tak a one time shot or pill to help prevent a disease for the rest of your life, it makes sense to do it. Taking an expensive drug, with nasty side effects, every day of your life, to possibly "LOWER THE RISK OF CHD" makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. Except to your doctor, the drug companies and brainwashed people."

What can be done to decrease muscle enzymes level and what causes them to elevate? I suffer from increased muscle enzymes and it causes me to have severe cramps in just about all of my muscles. I am being seen by a Dr. that specializes in rhemutology, but she cannot find a awy to get them down. I was also taking lipitor until they elevated, but I do not take it anymore. I have stopped using lipitor and I am now using welchol 1875mgs a day, but by enzymes are still elevated. They are in the 500 range. I would like to know if my body is not producing something that I might need to stop this or if there is some type of medicine that I can take to cause them to decrease.

Dr. B replied: "It depends on what the cause is for the elevated muscle enzymes. Muscle enzymes become elevated because of damage to muscle which results in the release of these enzymes into the blood stream. There are many causes of elevated muscle enzymes from medications (eg. Lipitor), rheumatologic disorders (eg. Dermatomyositis), genetic disorders (Duchenne muscular dystrophy), etc. etc. This list goes on for awhile. Each condition has it's own cause and treatment. The muscle enzymes should correct once you correct the cause. So for example if you get elevated muscle enzymes because of Lipitor, then if you stop Lipitor the muscle enzymes should come back down. So basically you have to treat the underlying cause to bring the muscle enzymes down. There are no other ways to bring the muscle enzymes down that I know of. Ensure you drink plenty of fluids to prevent complications. You should discuss this with your Rheumatologist who will know about your diagnosis and the appropriate treatment. I hope this helps answer your question. Edit: Sorry, just saw your additional comments. It is not that your body isn't producing something. As I mentioned above elevated muscle enzymes can have multiple causes and each has it's own treatment. There is no medication available that can decrease the muscle enzymes unless it is treating the underlying cause. A CPK of 500 is elevated, but not very elevated. Sometimes patients have a CPK of this level for unknown reasons, especially african americans. Continue working with your doctor to try to identify the cause and appropriately treat it if possible."